WILKES-BARRE — Just like many of you, I grew up in the best of times, and I will never forget the people, the events, and the spirit of what living in a real small town was all about.
On Saturday, my hometown of Plymouth, PA, had a parade celebrating America’s 250th, Plymouth’s 160th, and the Plymouth Historical Society’s 40th birthdays.
The parade conjured up memories of Plymouth’s Centennial in 1966 and Ben Johnson, a Plymouth High School graduate and an Olympic-caliber sprinter who went on to become a colonel in the U.S. Army.
Ben was the Grand Marshal of that parade, and he and his wife rode in a convertible with legendary Plymouth Coach John “Snoggy” Mergo.
Ben was an African American, and he is, in many ways, a historical figure — not just in Plymouth, but throughout the U.S. and worldwide.
My dad always talked about Ben Johnson and what a great athlete Ben was, and, more importantly, Ben was a decorated veteran and a great man in many ways.
Johnson and his family moved to Plymouth during the Great Depression and he went on to be president of his PHS class and a world-class athlete. Whenever my dad, himself an American war hero, spoke of Ben, it was always with the highest praise.
It wasn’t until 1966, when Ben and his wife returned to Plymouth for the town’s centennial celebration, that I had the honor and pleasure to meet Col. Johnson.
I remember seeing Ben and his wife at the 1966 Centennial — I recall my dad introducing me to him and shaking his hand. I learned that Ben raced against the legendary Jesse Owens four times and beat the Olympic champion twice — that factoid has stayed with me all my life. Ben was a Plymouth graduate. He was a legend — a role model.
Johnson was revered by all because — as my parents taught me — of what he brought to the table. He was an athlete, a decorated veteran, and a family man.
As you enter Plymouth on Route 11, at the corner of East Main and Vine streets sits what has always been known as “The Pink House.” That house is still there, and it has always been painted pink.
The Pink House is what brought Ben Johnson’s family to Plymouth — Ben’s mom worked for the family that owned The Pink House.
A few years ago, the Times Leader carried a story about Johnson, and sportswriter John Erzar compiled a list of some of Ben’s achievements:
• In 1931, 1932, and 1933, Johnson held district records in the 100- and 200-yard dash and the long jump.
• In 1932, he was the PIAA champion in the 100 and 200 dash and the long jump.
• Johnson was a contemporary and close personal friend of legendary runner Jesse Owens, and only injury and inexperience kept Johnson from the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
• Johnson was quick enough to place in the Olympic preliminaries in Philadelphia and Boston to earn a trip to the Olympic finals in Palo Alto, Calif.
• Johnson had not yet reached age 18 when he competed in the 200-meter dash against the top runners of the time. He finished fourth and missed a berth on the U.S. Track Team by one place.
• After high school, Johnson went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland.
• While at Columbia, Johnson was captain of the track team as a senior and held NCAA and AAU titles.
• Johnson raced against Owens four times in indoor meets while attending Columbia. He won two of those competitions.
• A pulled hamstring kept Johnson out of the 1936 Olympics, but the injury didn’t keep him out of Berlin — Johnson won the 100-meter dash and a gold medal in ’36 in a post-Olympic event in front of 100,000 spectators in Hitler’s Olympic Stadium.
• In 1937, Johnson was co-holder of two world records: the 100-yard dash, established in Germany, and the 100-meter dash, first set in France and then equaled in Germany.
• Entering the Army as an enlisted man in 1942, Johnson received his commission through the Officer Candidate School in 1943.
• Johnson served in the United States and Europe, and assumed the position of Secretary of the General Staff with Headquarters U.S. Army Transportation Terminal Command, Atlantic, in 1955.
• In 1957 and 1958, he served as battalion commander of the 70th Transportation Truck Battalion in Korea.
• In 1958, Johnson was named Professor of Military Science at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.
• Johnson, who retired from the military in 1969 at the rank of colonel, was responsible for morale and welfare services and equal opportunity employment at Fort Meade, Md., from 1966 until the time of his retirement.
• Johnson then worked as a bureau director for the state Department of Public Welfare until his retirement from public service in 1980.
Ben Johnson stood 5-foot-7 and weighed less than 150 pounds — he didn’t look imposing. And there was a time when the “Columbia Comet” — a nickname he was given — was the world’s fastest human.
Ben is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, where many of America’s heroes are interred.
This year, Ben will be inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
In 1966, I got to shake Ben Johnson’s hand — I will never forget that moment.